For the first time since retiring from competition, Kyra Gracie has spoken publicly about harassment she says she experienced throughout her career…

And about a culture she believes still affects women in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu today.

The former world champion described a disturbing encounter that occurred when she was still a teenager and rising athlete:

I imagine you’re n-ked inside my keiko kimono.

Gracie explained the comment came from an older man who approached her claiming he wanted to sponsor her career:

And this girl was me at 18 or 19 years old.
He came to approach me, saying he wanted to sponsor me, and I froze.

She said the situation did not end there:

When I was at events, he would appear. I would hide, freeze again…

He was wrong, but I kept silent. And I kept this until now because the environment, unfortunately, silences women very much.

Gracie also pushed back against the idea that her surname protected her:

Many people think that because I’m from the Gracie family, I’m protected, right? So many uncles, cousins, black belts.

But I went through many embarrassing situations, harassment situations, and I’m sure that if I weren’t from the Gracie family it would be much worse.

According to her, the issue extends far beyond individual incidents:

The harassment that happens behind the scenes with women and girls is not an exception. It’s a problem in the entire system.
It’s part of jiu-jitsu culture and it’s being passed from generation to generation.

I witnessed hundreds of cases and for a long time I was afraid to speak.

Now a mother, her motivation for coming forward is personal:

I didn’t want my daughters… to grow up in the same environment I grew up in.

Gracie is calling for accountability across the sport:

The change in our sport begins now, with truth, with unity, with responsibility from the entire community. Men and women.

We are tired. How many women left jiu-jitsu because of this? But we can no longer be silent.
I will not be silent anymore. Report and don’t omit. This change is in our hands.

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